The Iliad of Homer


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To the forbidden field he takes his flight,  
In the first folly of a youthful knight,  
To vaunt his swiftness wheels around the plain,  
But vaunts not long, with all his swiftness slain:  
Struck where the crossing belts unite behind,  
And golden rings the double back-plate join'd  
Forth through the navel burst the thrilling steel;  
And on his knees with piercing shrieks he fell;  
The rushing entrails pour'd upon the ground  
His hands collect; and darkness wraps him round.  
When Hector view'd, all ghastly in his gore,  
Thus sadly slain the unhappy Polydore,  
A cloud of sorrow overcast his sight,  
His soul no longer brook'd the distant fight:  
Full in Achilles' dreadful front he came,  
And shook his javelin like a waving flame.  
The son of Peleus sees, with joy possess'd,  
His heart high-bounding in his rising breast.  
"And, lo! the man on whom black fates attend;  
The man, that slew Achilles, is his friend!  
No more shall Hector's and Pelides' spear  
Turn from each other in the walks of war."--  
Then with revengeful eyes he scann'd him o'er:  
"Come, and receive thy fate!" He spake no more.  
Hector, undaunted, thus: "Such words employ  
34  
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Page
732 733 734 735 736

Quick Jump
1 245 490 735 980